AcadArena dropped the hammer on finals-bound Our Lady of Fatima University after the alleged ghosting incident during its lower bracket semifinals match against University of Batangas in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Alliance Games, the league announced on Wednesday night.
OLFU Esports is gunning for back-to-back titles after winning the previous tournament.
“It has been determined by the AcadArena League Operations team that, during the lower bracket semifinals of the Alliance Games versus University of Batangas BRAHMANS on July 10, 2022, OLFU Esports Organization’s Mobile Legends: Bang Bang team engaged in ghosting,” opened AcadArena’s statement.
“Ghosting is the act of having another person use a competitor’s account for an unfair advantage. Ghosting also breaks trust with players, organizations, and the league itself,” the statement continued.
AcadArena said that the team violated rule 4.1.2 of the AcadArena Alliance Games.
OLFU Esports, aside from getting disqualified in the tournament, will be banned from competing in the league for six months and will be forced to forfeit the prizes they won during the Alliance Games 2022 Split 1.
Still, AcadArena will keep OLFU Esports’ membership in the Alliance Games while also assuring that they will ‘guide’ its players moving forward to prevent such things from happening again.
OLFU Esports jungler Angelo “BARDAJE” Bardaje, the player in question for the alleged ghosting, has since denied the allegations in an interview with Tiebreaker Times.
“Pinalaro pa po kami sa lower bracket finals kalaban Ateneo then nung na 2-0 namin yung Ateneo nag-post pa sila na kami yung last finalist sa lower bracket na lalaro sa SMX then gabi po ininterview ako, akala nila naka-pilot ako e naka-on naman yung cam ko,” said Bardaje, who previously played under Raven “L3bron” Alonzo’s Buhay ng Player amateur squad.
“Wala po silang proof na dapat disqualified kami kasi lahat ng imbestigasyon nila nakipag cooperate kami. First of all naka on cam ako, sinunod ko guidelines, nakalagpas pa po kami sa UB at lumaban sa Ateneo. Wala silang proof at kami pa po pinapahanap ng proof e sila po nag co-complain,” he added.
The 19-year-old amateur standout said that the school is currently working on an appeal.
With the ruling, the UB Brahmans and Ateneo de Manila University LG Esports will fight for the final spot in the finals of the Alliance Games which will be held during the organization’s CONQuest event.
